Looking for a shoe to protect your feet through rocky and technical terrain? Then La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 2 is a great choice, as it is stable, protective, and ready for long runs.
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II - Stability and protection
My first impression of Ultra Raptor 2 was that it reminded me more of a mountain shoe than a running shoe. But after my first run in them, I was surprised by their great features for long-distance running. The same features that make them a great hiking shoe work well in a running shoe, especially in technical terrains.
It all starts with the stabilizing heel, a supportive plastic plate around the heel ensures good ankle stability. The way it sits around the heel gives stability on both the inside and outside of the foot. Under the outsole, you find an anti-torsion insert, which further helps with stability, especially during the take-off phase.
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II
At the front of the foot, the outsole extends over your toes, providing ultimate protection against hitting rocks, whether walking or running in mountainous terrain. If you want protection and support, Ultra Raptor 2 is what you need.
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II - Built to last!
The midsole is made of two different foam layers. The Endurance platform is a softer foam at the top of the sole, providing a really nice feel underfoot. Especially under the forefoot, where La Sportiva has added a thicker layer for increased comfort.
Below the Endurance platform is the firmer EVA midsole foam, which keeps the shoe stable and secure. The EVA foam isn't designed to be soft and flexible but firmer and more resilient. There's no doubt that Ultra Raptor 2 works best on soft ground. However, I have not experienced any issues running on some asphalt stretches between trail sections.
The firmer midsole foam tends to offer longer durability, and I have no reason to believe it won't be the case with La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 2. It's a shoe built to last!
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II - An upper that lasts
The same can be said for the upper. With solid reinforcement from heel to toes, the upper supports you from the side, ensuring longer durability if you hit rocks or stress the upper with quick direction changes on wet days.
The upper isn't super tight, especially around the midfoot where there's room for a higher instep. The forefoot is fairly standard, but don't worry if you have wide feet, as Ultra Raptor 2 also comes in a wide version.
The tongue is relatively padded, offering protection against sand, rocks, and dirt, so you won't have to deal with annoying small stones.
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II - A perfect blend
The perhaps most impressive feature of Ultra Raptor 2 is the outsole. La Sportiva has given it the fancy name FriXion White, but that doesn't tell you what it can actually do.
The outsole is a blend of soft rubber with plenty of grip and another firmer rubber. This way, you get amazing traction on various surfaces. The lugs aren't the most aggressive, so if you're running in knee-deep mud, they're not the best. But as an all-around trail grip, it works really well on forest paths, wet days, and mountains and rocks.
Overall, I would recommend this shoe to those who want a shoe that withstands many miles and provides support whether you're in the mountains or running trails.
Didn't find a favorite?
See the full range of running shoes here:
